Fairport coach leads USA Basketball to gold medal in Turkey

Add another gold medal to Scott Fitch’s collection.

Fitch, the longtime Fairport boys’ basketball coach, recently led the USA Basketball U17 Men’s National Team to gold at the 2026 FIBA U17 World Cup in Istanbul, Turkey. He’s now won six gold medals with Team USA as either an assistant or head coach.

Fitch served as head coach for the Americans at Istanbul. His squad defeated Serbia in the championship game, completing a 7-0 tournament and posting the United States’ eighth consecutive gold at this event.

Standing atop the podium as the Star Spangled Banner played made for what Fitch called a “surreal moment.”

“You try and picture it or figure out what it’s going to feel like,” Fitch said upon returning to New York. “But you can’t until you’re actually there.”

Last year: Fairport basketball coach strikes gold with USA Basketball

Another one

Sporting ‘USA’ across one’s chest requires a unique responsibility at international basketball tournaments. This placed added pressure on the head coach.

“Everyone wants to beat you and become the first team to put us down,” Fitch said. “You embrace the challenge, focus on what you control, and make sure it’s something you’re proud of.”

Fitch’s 12-man team stormed through the tournament, including a 107-81 win over Serbia in the championship game July 5. CJ Rosser, a 6-foot-10 forward from Rocky Mount, North Carolina, led with 23 points.

“This group seemed to like each other right away,” Fitch said. “We set forth a good atmosphere and culture, and I thought they bought in. They played for each other and played extremely hard, which is something we always challenge teams to do, but the chemistry stood out to me.”

The United States also defeated France (115-84), Japan (128-66), Italy (131-80), Cameroon (141-85), Puerto Rico (149-82), Australia (114-65). Two U.S. players were named to the tournament’s All-Star Five: Beckham Black, a 6-foot-3 guard from Duncanville, Texas; and Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje, a 6-foot-10 center from St. Petersburg, Florida.

“Everything I was telling (Boumtje Boumtje), he was soaking in,” Fitch said. “That’s a special trait. He has a great chance to be the number one pick in the (NBA) draft in two years and it’s because he yearns to get better. He’s not satisfied.”

Fitch led Team USA to gold at 2025 FIBA U16 Men's AmeriCup, his first international competition as head coach of the United States. He previously served in assistant roles on championship squads at the 2024 FIBA U17 World Cup, 2023 FIBA Americas U16 Championship, 2018 FIBA U17 World Cup and 2017 FIBA Americas U16 Championship.

More: Fairport floats past Rush-Henrietta to win first boys basketball title since 2017

Always coaching

Fitch had little time to waste once tryouts began.

He first must cut 24 players. Those selected had just a week to prepare for the nine-day sprint through tournament play.

It’s a draining yet rewarding experience for coaches. Fitch pushes Team USA athletes the same way he does his Fairport players.

“They’re still kids,” Fitch said. “Even though these kids are ultra talented, a lot of them don’t do the little things well. If I can teach them that and help them get better, and when they feel and see they can improve, they yearn for more.”

What’s next?

Clinics, summer league with his Fairport squad and workouts with local players such as Isaiah Stewart will consume Fitch’s time until his next USA Basketball event in October. He’ll then coach at an invite-only camp in Colorado which features 80 top players in grades 9-12 nationally.

Fitch has led Fairport to four Section V titles since succeeding his father, Jeff, as head coach in 2001-02. Scott Fitch previously earned a first team All-Greater Rochester selection as a Fairport player before garnering two NCAA Division III All-American nods as a point guard at Geneseo.

Jeff Uveino joined the USA Today Network in 2023 and began covering Rochester-area high school sports in 2026. He is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University's Jandoli School of Communication and native of Perry. Contact him at juveino@usatodayco.com. Follow him on X @realjuveino and on Instagram @jeffusports. 

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Fairport coach leads USA Basketball to gold medal in Turkey